In the realm of India’s strategic landscape, Ajit Doval emerges as a towering figure, revered for his astute espionage acumen. His tenure as the National Security Adviser (NSA) under the Modi government spans unprecedentedly across three terms, a testament to his indispensability in pivotal decision-making corridors.
The government, in a proclamation issued Thursday, reinstated Doval to his role as NSA for an unparalleled third term. At 79, his incumbency surpasses all predecessors, embellished with over three decades of intricate operational experience across diverse theatres including the Northeast, Sikkim, Punjab, and the volatile Jammu and Kashmir region. Sources divulge his clandestine sojourn of over six years within the intricate web of Pakistan’s terrain.
Doval’s narrative intertwines seamlessly with the annals of India’s intelligence apparatus. He intricately architected the operations wing of the Intelligence Bureau (IB), the nation’s sentinel against internal security threats, and birthed the Multi Agency Centre (MAC) post the 2001 impasse with Pakistan, a formidable bastion in counterterrorism endeavors.
A scion of the 1968-batch Indian Police Service (IPS), Kerala cadre, Doval’s illustrious career culminated as the chief of Intelligence Bureau (IB) in 2005. His debut as NSA unfurled on May 30, 2014, followed by a consecutive term commencing May 31, 2019. The recent extension etches his name as the first NSA to chart a triptych of tenures.
His tenure brims with epochal moments, notably orchestrating the 2016 surgical strikes retorting to the Uri terror onslaught and orchestrating the retaliatory Balakot air strike post the Pulwama carnage in 2019, earning plaudits for his deft strategems.
Doval’s saga intertwines with the saga of Indian security brinkmanship. He stood as a vanguard in negotiations during the harrowing Indian Airlines IC-814 hijacking episode in 1999, etching his mettle in the annals of crisis diplomacy. Born amidst the ethereal realms of Garhwal, Uttarakhand, on January 20, 1945, Doval’s formative years were sculpted across the educational precincts of Delhi, Ajmer, and Agra.
The luminance of Doval’s valor is enshrined in the prestigious Kirti Chakra, a military accolade, bestowed upon him in 1988 for his valiant forays quelling insurgency in Mizoram and forging peace dialogues with insurgent leadership.
His legacy reverberates beyond national borders, threading a mosaic of global security discourse. His incisive perspectives on indigenous and global security paradigms resonate across platforms, fostering symbiotic camaraderie among global security echelons.